Mexico is committed to sustainable cocoa production
SAGARPA has encouraged the participation of academic and research centers, through the National Service of Seed Inspection and Certification (SNICS) to monitor the compliance of laws on seeds and plant varieties. Cocoa Processing Plant Mexican Business Trade Exchange (IMCO) is now operational. At the same time, Mexico is promoting green growth to preserve the natural heritage and generate wealth, competitiveness and employment.
The undersecretary of Food and Competitiveness Government of SAGARPA, Ricardo Aguilar Castillo opened the Cocoa Processing Plant Company Mexicano SA Trade Exchange de C.V. (IMCO) in the municipality of Emiliano Zapata, Veracruz.
On behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food, José Calzada, the federal official highlighted the work of the company for their work to innovate and enhance the development of the cocoa industry in Mexico, with a sustainable vision.
“The Government of the Republic, the cocoa industry is a key to open new markets for agricultural products and promote quality international element,” he said. SAGARPA is committed to innovate and develop sustainably this industry, so has focused on the coordination of actions for the conservation and sustainable use of this and other native crops in the country.
Within this field, Rovirosa said, the federal agency, through the National Service of Seed Inspection and Certification (SNICS), has encouraged the participation of more than 43 bodies, including academic and research centers, to monitor compliance with the laws on seeds and plant varieties.
This institutional infrastructure, said Aguilar Castillo has allowed until the third quarter of this year more than 500 producers participating in improvement projects of various crops such as cocoa, for varieties that meet the needs of farmers.
Thus, he said, they have strengthened 25 community seed banks distributed in various states of the Republic, in order to establish 752 materials to identify morphological and agronomic characteristics of different products, especially cocoa.
Undersecretary of Food and Competitiveness stressed that the commitment of the SAGARPA with agribusiness is clearly expressed by encouraging the IMCO, which has enabled the development of cocoa production through an investment of three million pesos, intended for use solar energy for sustainable production and nursery plants.
He stressed that these actions are part of the objectives proposed by President Enrique Peña Nieto to guide a green and inclusive growth, preserve our natural heritage while generating wealth, competitiveness and employment.
He stressed that such projects and coordinated work with agribusiness entrepreneurs across the country have yielded important results for the country’s productivity.
Among these achievements, he stressed, is the trade balance surplus, the highest agri the last twenty years.
He also said the country is in 12th place of 194 countries, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, for its acronym in English), a producer of primary goods.
He stressed that in this way we are making the construction of an agricultural sector capable of ensuring food security.
The event was also attended by the secretary of Agricultural Development, Rural and Fisheries of Veracruz, Ramon Ferrari Pardino; Undersecretary of Agriculture SEDARPA Valentin Casas Cortez, and SAGARPA delegate in the state, Marco Antonio Torres Hernandez, as well as state and municipal authorities.
Source: SAGARPA
